with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

on Egypt, notably the case of blogger Alaa Abdel Fatah

Véronique De Keyser, Pino Arlacchi, Saïd El Khadraoui, María Muñiz De Urquiza, Kristian Vigenin
on behalf of the S&D Group

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

European Parliament resolution on Egypt, notably the case of blogger Alaa Abdel Fatah

B7‑0602/2011

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Egypt, in particular of 27 October 2011 on the situation in Egypt and Syria, in particular of Christian communities,

- having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

- having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, to which Egypt is a party,

- having regard to the European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,

- having regard to Rule 122(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Egyptian blogger Alaa Abdel Fatah was summoned by a military prosecutor on 30 October 2011 to face charges of inciting violence against the armed forces, assaulting military personnel and damaging military property during the recent Maspero clashes that took place on 9 October 2011 in Cairo; whereas he refused to be interrogated by military authorities due to his opposition to civilians being tried before military tribunals; whereas the military prosecutor ordered his provisional detention for 15 days in the prison of Bab El Khalq pending further investigation; whereas the military appeal court confirmed his pre-trial detention on 3 November 2011 and he has been transferred to Tora prison,

B. whereas imprisoned blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad continues his hunger strike and is in critical health condition; whereas the military appeal court decided to annul his sentence of three years of imprisonment and ordered a re-trial on 11 October 2011; whereas, at the second hearing of this new procedure on 1 November 2011, his trial has been postponed to 13 November 2011 as he refused again to cooperate with the military tribunal on the basis of his opposition to civilians being tried before military courts,

C. whereas Egypt is going through a critical period of democratic transition and faces considerable challenges and difficulties in this process;

D. whereas social media has played an important role in Arab Spring events including in Egypt; whereas bloggers, journalists and human rights defenders continue being targets of harassment and intimidation in Egypt,

E. whereas human rights organisations report that more than 12.000 civilians have been tried before military tribunals since March 2011 in Egypt; whereas civilians arrested under the emergency law continue being tried before military tribunals, which fall short of minimum standards of fair trial and the right to defence, in the country,

1. Reiterates its solidarity with the Egyptian people in this critical period of democratic transition in the country and continues supporting their legitimate democratic aspirations; stresses again that the freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly, religion, conscience and thought are essential components of democracy;

2. Calls for the immediate release of Alaa Abdel Fatah; expresses again its deep concerns about the health condition of Maikel Nabil Sanad and reiterates its call for his immediate release; calls on the Egyptian authorities to guarantee that no blogger, journalist or human rights defender is subject to direct or indirect harassment or intimidation in the country;

3. Calls on again the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the government in Egypt to put an end without delay to the emergency law and to military trials of civilians, and to immediately release or ensure the fair re-trial before civilian courts of all prisoners of conscience;

4. Reiterates its call for an independent, thorough and transparent investigation into the Maspero clashes that took place on 9 October 2011 in Cairo, which should be conducted by an independent and impartial civil judiciary, in order to hold all those responsible to account;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt.